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"I shall ask nothing," replied the Malay; "the fact is, I think it probable that I may be able to screw more than their value out of Mr Hazlit."
In short, strange though it may seem, Edgar was in rather an enviable position than otherwise, on that bleak November day. Some two years or so previous to the day to which we refer, Edgar, with his diving friends, had returned to England. Mr Hazlit had preceded them by a month. But Edgar did not seek him out. He had set a purpose before him, and meant to stick to it.
The merchant obeyed instantly, giving the youth an embrace such as he had never expected to receive at his hands! Even in that moment of danger and anxiety, Edgar could not help smiling at the gaze of unutterable wonder which Mr Hazlit cast on him through the salt water if not tears that filled his eyes, for he had not seen the youth when he jumped overboard.
Mr Hazlit paused a moment, and Edgar was so thunderstruck by the unexpected nature of his host's discourse, that he could only stare at him in mute surprise and unbelief in the evidence of his own ears. "Now," resumed Mr Hazlit, "as things stand, I shall be very happy indeed that we should return to our old intimacy.
"Mr Hazlit," said Edgar, "will you walk with me to the stern of the vessel? I wish to get out of earshot of others." Mr Hazlit replied, "Certainly, Mr Berrington;" but he thought a good deal more than he said. Among many other things he thought, "Ah! Here it comes at last. He thinks this a good time to renew his suit, having just rendered us such signal assistance. I think he might have waited!
"Indeed," said Mr Hazlit, who, rather pale and weak from his recent unwonted experiences, leaned in a helpless manner on the quarter-rails. "Yes; they pull forty or fifty oars, double-banked," returned the captain, wiping his glass carefully. "They've got heavy guns on board, no doubt. We shall have to protect our boiler."
Aileen Hazlit also, on being told that there was need of a woman's tender hand in such work, at once overcame her natural repugnance to scenes of blood; she proceeded on deck, and, with a beating heart but steady hand, went to work like a trained disciple of Florence Nightingale.
We remained only one day on the rock, when a passing ship observed our signals, took us off, and carried us safely into Hong-Kong. "Mr Hazlit and his daughter immediately left for I know not where! I remained here to make some inquiries about the wreck, which I am told contains a large amount of gold coin.
This," he added, handing the three-cornered note to the old gentleman, "is her reply." Mr Hazlit took the note, and, with a troubled countenance, read:
Next day, although they had lain down in the bottom of the boat supperless, the rest had refreshed most of them, and they pulled on with some degree of vigour. But noon came, and with it culminated the heat of a burning sun. Still no water was served out, no food distributed. Mr Hazlit and his party had biscuit and water given them in the morning and at noon.
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